Tourism Educators Stage National Tourism Students Congress

The Union of Filipino Tourism Educators (UFTE) (formerly TESCU) held their Fourth National Tourism Students Congress last Aug. 29 at the De La Salle University Dasmariñas.

Aiming to increase the students’ awareness of their roles in the industry, the congress organizers selected three important topics to be discussed by distinguished guests. Keynote speaker Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan headed an in-depth discussion about tourism opportunities amidst global crisis.

Also gracing the event are Ms. Mae Castellano of Avon Cosmetics and Ms. Ivy de Borja, HR Manager of the Travellers International Hotel Group, with talks about image enhancement for better presentation and career opportunities in tourism and hospitality.

The highlight of the congress is the Tourism Skills Olympics, where the UFTE Cup was awarded to the school that edged out all other participants. Several contests were prepared to test the students’ tourism and hospitality management prowess, including tour guiding and tour packaging competitions, a tourism quiz bee, cultural dance presentations, and a poster/slogan making contest.

An estimated 1,000 students from tourism and HRM schools all over the country attended the event.

For inquiries and more information on the event, please contact Ms. Gracella Rebuena of the De La Salle University Dasmariñas Tourism Department at (02) 844 7832 loc. 3090.

Caving Enthusiasts, Clubs, and Government Agencies Unite for National Caving Congress

Members of caving clubs and speleological societies from all over the country, and from Australia, United States, New Zealand, Hongkong, Great Britain and Japan packed up their gear and went to the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Samar last May 11-15, 2009 for the Philippine Speleological Society Cave Congress 2009 (9th National Caving Congress).

Hosted by Philippine Cave Guides Association Inc. (PCGA), together with Nature Unlimited - Leyte Outdoor Club Inc. (NULOC), Department of Tourism (DOT), Provincial Government of Leyte and Samar, and the Municipal Government of Basey Samar, the event aims to enhance the technical capability of the participants to be able to conduct a safe and more thorough cave assessment. In addition, it aims to come up with a policy recommendation for a more streamlined and dynamic cave management program that would take into consideration the connection between conservation and tourism. The congress is also a show of support for a stronger implementation of Republic Act 9072, known as the Caves and Cave Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

The event, carrying the theme, “Finding the Balance between Conservation and Tourism”, was formally opened at the University of the Philippines – Tacloban with DOT Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano welcoming the delegates for this year’s congress.

Three international speakers graced this year’s National Caving Congress. They were Professor Elery Hamilton Smith, chairman of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the World Commission on Protected Areas, Mr. Pete Chandler, owner of Spellbound Caving Tours in New Zealand; and Mr. Dave Smith of the Department of Conservation in New Zealand.

Also, local speakers from the University of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, DOT, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Museum, and PCGA shared their insights and knowledge on cave preservations.

For more information about the event contact the PCGA at (053) 523-762 or email psscavecongress09@yahoo.com

Philippines Became First Host of World Health Tourism Congress in Asia

In the effort to place the country as the premier health and wellness tourism destination in Asia, the Philippines was the first country in Asia Pacific to host the World Health Tourism Congress held last March 26 – 28, 2009 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

Organized by Aura International, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, the World Health Tourism Congress is an exclusive congress where buyers and vendors of medical and wellbeing services have the opportunity to interact in a one-to-one meeting format as well as during workshops and informal gatherings.

During the event, corporate buyers, or those who decide when and where to send their citizens, client, and employees for medical travel, had the chance to meet up with solution providers, which consists of spas, hotel, medical center, and clinics, and forged partnerships in order to find cost effective institutions which can deliver the needs of their clients seeking medical attention. Also, participants were introduced to the latest news and updates about the health and tourism industry.

The first annual was hosted in Germany last May 25 – 27, 2006, the Second annual was hosted in Cyprus last March 23 – 25, 2007 and the Third annual was hosted in Spain last April 4 - 6, 2008.

The 4th World Health Tourism Congress is sponsored by the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (Asian Hospital and Medical Center, The Medical City, Health and Leisure - Medical Tourism Integrator, Makati Medical Center, Asian Eye Institute, Philippine Retirement Authority, Manila Doctors Hospital, Capitol Medical Center, Tagaytay Hospital and Medical Center, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, and St. Francis Cabrini M.Cat), Prince Court Medical Centre, Cyprus Tourism Organization, Cebu Health and Wellness Council Inc., Jayan International, Parkway Holdings, Singapore Medicine, Take Care, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Bellevue Medical Center, ARDI Health Services Inc., Kliniken des Bezirks Oberbayern, Zulu Kingdom, and Discovery Suites.